Bike Reviews

I was never a Boy Scout, but I still like to be prepared—especially on rides where a snapped chain, broken spoke, or leaky shock could lead to an hours-long walk back to the trailhead. If you’re like me, you’ll appreciate Blackburn’s Toolmanator 16—a hulking multi-tool that has everything you need for most trailside repairs.

Here’s the impressive list: 1.5mm-, 2mm-, 3mm-, 4mm-, 5mm-, 6mm-, and 8-mm hex keys; T25 and T30 Torx heads; flat and Phillips #2 screwdrivers, a Schrader valve core too; 14/15-gague spoke wrenches; a 10-speed chain breaker; and incredibly, a mini-shock pump with no-bleed head. That’s about as many bike tools as I have in my toolbox at home. I’ve spent some time contemplating why one might need a mini-shock pump on their multi-tool and have yet to come up with a satisfying reason. But it works (albeit slowly), and I’m sure some day I’ll be glad it’s there.

Some multi-tools have as many bits and drivers as this one, but few are as compact. The one-piece aluminum body is about the half the size of an iPhone (and half as thin) and weighs just 150 grams, so it fits easily into a jersey pocket and goes unnoticed in a hydration pack. Despite its slender profile, the Toolmanator’s square shape can be uncomfortable to hold while torqueing down on a bolt. And because it packs so many tools into a small space, accessing the desired tool can be challenging, especially while wearing gloves. The short bits also can make it difficult to access some hard-to-reach bolts. So, the Toolmanator is not perfect. But if you want a single, svelte multi-tool with enough features to get you through most repairs, it could be exactly what you need.—Lou Mazzante